what became of magic starts with lonely Aline making friends at a sleepover with a ghost girl while all of the human man girls decide to make Aline public enemy number one at school for being weird. She ages up having only her ghost friend and the three sweet old ladies who run the local bookstore where she can be herself. Then she finds out magic is real, and a person, and there's a woman wanting to take over the world. And its a lot.
It's a lot, and none of it is given the space to breath. You're introduced to characters and immediately told that Aline sees them as family, and the only one I find that believable about is Dragon and Magic. That said, Magic and Aline relationship is just... nonsensical. It jumps around, at one point I thought there were two guys- no it was just Magic who, for no reason that's ever explained, acts? looks? like someone else for a bit. It's a mess.
I still don't understand how the magic system works. Or how the MAGICs work? It's a lot of building, without caring if it makes a world.

What Became of Magic- Paige Crutcher Star rating 2.5 (rounded to 3) Thank you NetGalley, Paige Crutcher, St. Martin’s Press and St. Martin's Griffin for the ARC in exchange for my honest review. The first half of the book had me captivated, reading about the MC’s early childhood, finding out she could see and help ghosts was really exciting and interesting. As well as the plot around being othered in school and being seen as strange. I felt like this part of the book was very relatable and enjoyable to read.But then the book fast-forwarded 15 years, I felt like it moved fast and was really hard to keep up with. It kind of felt like I was walking around in a dream world. I was lost in the story several times and not fully understanding what was going on. I really liked the magical elements and the romantic side plot. Overall, I just feel like this book was a whole lot of info dumping, but the ending brought a little more I understanding but still left me a little confused as to what I had just read

Thank you Macmillan Audio for allowing me to read and review What Became of Magic on NetGalley.

Published: 09/26/23

Narrator: Caitlin Kelly

Stars: 2.5

Okay.

The cover caught my eye and the synopsis intrigued me. I was looking for something new. The genre listed is Women's Fiction. Unfortunately this feels like middle grade with potentially young adult genre classification. In addition, at times I wondered if this was a cozy mystery.

At no point did I feel like I was reading an adult book; this missed that level of maturity.

This is for someone looking for a light uncomplicated tale.

The perfect spooky book to bring you all of the fall vibes no matter what time of year you read it. The audio variation is fantastic as well!

I’m so intrigued anytime I see a book with themes of magic or involving a witch, and was so excited to read WHAT BECAME OF MAGIC. I loved the magical elements of this story, and thought the plot was fascinating. It had romance and a little suspense, keeping me entertained.

🎧I listened to the audiobook format and enjoyed the narration which definitely brought the story to life.

*many thanks to Macmillan audio and Netgalley for the gifted copy for review

What Became of Magic by Paige Crutcher is a book about a witch and the quest to save Magic. Protagonist Aline is a witch who can talk to ghosts but keeps her powers hidden from the world choosing to hide and help lost souls collect their keys to pass on. She takes solace in a bookstore and the three mysterious shopkeepers and life passes on for a decade or so until she gets invited to a town that does not exist. Aline learns that her powers are the only thing that can save the lost Magic but her must face off with a foe who has been waiting centuries for someone with her power. The book is interesting and unlike other witch stories I have read before. The Magics and flipping around who can do what gets a bit confusing but overall, worth the read.

Thank you @Netgalley and @PaigeCrutcher for the ARC.

I definitely expected to like this one a bit more than I did. It felt very YA and a bit lacking. There was a large time jump for our FMC, starting in middle school and jumping right to her being 30 years old. I think the plot had promise but it fell flat for me. We have a story of finding oneself, love I guess, found family, and fighting an enemy. It felt a bit like a weird dream and a riddle wrapped into one. If I wasn’t listening to this as an audiobook I probably would have DNF’d it.

*unfair star rating" I did not finish this one, it wasn't for me. But I absolutely see how others will love it. Please check out other reviews if you're interested!

I was pretty neutral towards this. I really liked the setup and the first few chapters, but once the larger conflict was introduced I got pretty bored. Aline felt pretty mediocre and seemed to never have an idea of what was happening and then all of a sudden save the day. I did really like the narrator.

This one was DNF for me - I got about half way thru and I just couldn't finish it.
I enjoyed the beginning and it had may all the way up until the MC went to this other land and that was about it. Sorry :(

I really enjoyed the narrator on this book I think that she did a great job of bringing the story to life. I am kinda on the fence on this one. I loved the magical elements and the characters, but the story line was a bit hard to keep up with at times. I spent a lot of time having to rewind and get my bearings in a few of the more fast paced places. I think that I would have probably enjoyed and understood the print version better. This is definitely one that i will come back to as i am such a huge fan of Crutcher's work.

Overall, I enjoyed this book. However, I’ve been very unsure how to review it and rate it. The over all plot was good and I liked the main character, Aline. I’ve never read a book like this one. Parts were confusing and it did take a little while for me to get into this book. It was a good witchy read that is very different from anything I’ve read before. I’m excited to read more from Paige Crutcher.

Wow, I really loved this book! Initially I thought this might actually be a YA novel, until the author used the term “tits up,” and then I let myself get completely immersed into the story. What Became of Magic had romance, adventure, suspense, heartbreak, and obviously, magic. I am sad that Matchstick is not a real place, because the description was dreamy and I would move there in a heartbeat. This cozy, witchy town where all the homes are woodsy cottages, that also has a coffee shop, library, and tons of magical stores stole my heart. Crutcher is also excellent at world-building and I love the way she writes. 4/5 stars.

Thank you to Macmillan Audio and Netgalley for the advanced copy!

Thank you NetGalley, Publishers, and Paige Crutcher for gifting me a copy of What Became of Magic in return for my honest opinion.

1.5/5

This was a DNF for me, I just couldn't get into it. I didn't find it enjoyable or interesting. I can see why others might enjoy it which is why I bumped it up to 1.5 stars.

What Became of Magic by Paige Crutcher was a book that I was hoping to like more than I did. I love witchy reads but I felt that this was not witchy enough or just a different kind of witchy than I usually read. I finished this one, but felt indifferent to the story and characters afterward.

Thank you to NetGalley and Macmillan Audio for this gifted audiobook in exchange for an honest review.

Thank you to Macmillan Audio for the advance audiobook in exchange for an honest review.
This book I describe as a witchy paranormal romance that features a lonely witch, her found family, a spunky ghost, and a curse that must be broken. I wanted to like this more than I did, but the plot felt like a convoluted and confusing dream that I somehow found a way to be able to follow along with. Much of the story was riddles and wandering so it was hard for me to dive into, but cute nonetheless. It is filled with vivid details that insert you into the story and some great characters to root for.. and some to root against. A cute story but overall not for me and that's okay.

Such a different type of magic system, it was different than anything I've read in the last little while. This was a Fantastical witchy tail, and the world, the characters, and the lower in the book was brand new but very welcome. I will be watching for the next book in the series, as I can't wait to find out what happens to the characters. I loved the main characters development and can see she will continue to grow in the next installment.

Audiobook received for free through NetGalley

Listened to 67% of this book but couldn’t get into the story as much as I wanted to for some reason. The story was written well and narrated well, but wasn't quite my cup of tea right now. Figured I'd review as is rather than leaving it undone. .

Find out what became of magic. Or is it magics?

I enjoyed this paranormal fantasy and found the romance element didn't overwhelm the story. The audiobook was engaging and easy to follow

What Became of Magic
⭐️⭐️⭐️
Author: Paige Crutcher

I requested a digital advanced readers copy from NetGalley, St. Martin’s Press and Macmillan Audio and providing my opinion voluntarily and unbiased.

Synopsis: Aline Weir, a witch who can talk to ghosts, has kept her talents hidden ever since a disastrous middle school slumber party, choosing to be invisible and use her powers in secret to help lost souls reunite with the keys to send them home. All the while, she finds solace in a bookstore and the three mysterious women who run it… until Aline discovers the book of Mischief, and her powers are enhanced.

Living a solitary life until the age of thirty, Aline’s life takes an unexpected turn when the wrong (or perhaps right) person witnesses her using her powers and she is invited to a town that doesn’t exist on any map. Arriving in Matchstick, Aline learns of a lost magic that desperately needs to be found and only her unique powers can do it. But what she’s not told is that Magic is a person. One that is dangerous and seductive and has been waiting for a witch with a power like hers for centuries.

My Thoughts: I enjoyed the previous book, The Lost Witch, a little better than this one. I really struggled with the layout of the story as it appears that most of the characters talked in riddles. However, I loved the romance blended with the magical theme. While I am not a huge fantasy reader, I do love books revolving around magic and witches. Aline feels like an outcast, as she has the special ability to talk to ghosts, even her own parents made her feel like an outcast. It is not until in adulthood, she meets these eccentric sisters and works in their bookstore, she really comes into her own. Then all of the sudden, she is abandoned by both her ghost friend and the sisters.

The book started off great and grabbed my attention. However, towards the middle, the world switching and magical system became a little confusing. It picks back up towards the last third and finished strong. I loved the ending. The author does a great job at detailing the worlds and building this imagery that really pulls you into the story, immersing you into the story. The characters, while unreliable narrators, were relatable and likable. It was very whimsical, creative, and intriguing. If you love Lana Harper, you should pick this up. I did enjoy the story and would recommend to other readers.